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Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Reach Historic Agreement, Avoiding City-Wide Strike
In a significant win for Las Vegas hospitality workers, the Culinary Workers Union has announced a monumental tentative deal with Caesars Entertainment, potentially avoiding a city-wide strike.
Described as a “historic” agreement by union leaders, the deal includes substantial wage increases in the first year, as well as improved healthcare and pension benefits. One of the standout provisions of the agreement is the reduction in workload for housekeepers, marking the first such change in thirty years. Additionally, the union has successfully negotiated language that allows them to support non-union workers on the Las Vegas Strip, a move seen as a crucial victory for workers’ rights.
The news of the Caesars deal has brought a sense of hope to the city, with many workers celebrating the breakthrough. However, the threat of a strike still looms as negotiations with MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts have not been resolved. If agreements are not reached by the looming deadline on November 10, nine casino resorts employing 25,000 workers could be affected, posing a significant challenge to the city’s bustling tourism industry.
MGM has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement and has vowed to offer the largest pay increase in its history of contracts with the unions. However, the financial implications of these agreements are substantial, with every 1% increase in wages translating to millions in additional labor costs for the casino operators.
The Culinary and Bartender unions have been in talks with the casinos for seven months, with 95% of their members voting to authorize a city-wide strike in September. These negotiations reflect the larger trend in the United States, where unions are pushing employers for better pay and benefits amid a shortage of workers.
As Las Vegas prepares for high-profile events like the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the outcome of these negotiations will not only impact the livelihoods of thousands of workers but also the city’s bustling tourism sector. The resilience and determination of the workers have become a testament to the collective strength of the labor movement.
Tiffany Thomas, a guest room attendant at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and a member of the Culinary Union for 17 years, expressed her determination, stating, “I am willing to go on strike because I have a 10-year-old daughter who comes to negotiations with me and she is going to inherit all of this. I refuse to sit back and watch what we’ve built crumble. I want my daughter to look at me and know I fought for a better future.”